Maxwell Frost

This governor has said any issue that you can think of is the problem and is the fault of gay folks, of our LGBTQ Plus community, of black folks, of immigrants. He has scapegoated every vulnerable community for every single issue that he…

It is a hopeful message, one that says that no matter who you are, you deserve health care, you deserve a good job, you deserve a union, you deserve the right to an abortion.

We deserve the right to live here free of the fear of being gunned down.

There is a lot of different legislation we need to pass. First, we need to get something done that can make a huge difference that the majority of Americans, gun owners included, are for and that is universal background checks.

I think the most important thing is first off being creative in the way that we`re going to advocate for what we believe in.

What that`s taught me is that, number one, folks in office need to be more genuine with people. And we as organizers, and people working to make this change need to understand that these folks will lie to our faces sometimes, but that`s OK.

What drove me to that campaign was seeing someone that looked like me. I remember that day exactly. I was watching TV with my dad. And I saw the president speaking, saw President Obama speaking about hope, and about how we needed to get…

I think, obviously, the safety of our judges is of paramount importance.

And unlike many people in this room, I have actually been to Albania--it was an interesting experience--years and years ago, when I chaired a special task force of the House of Representatives to help the parliaments of Eastern and Central…

And, Connie, I know it may come as a great surprise to you, but the great State of Texas that Gene Green and I represented was one of the first States in the country to pass the Equal Rights Amendment.

The Chair again wishes to thank the former Members of the House and Senate for their presence here today. Before terminating these proceedings, the Chair would like to invite those former Members who did not respond when the roll was…

I don't know how many of you know the amount of time that Cliff has devoted to this organization. It is very, very impressive. He has a full-time job and has been an excellent president, has attended many, many of our functions, has taken…

Thank you for your time and for your service. We need to let you get on to your meeting of your Conference. Thank you very much for being with us.

The gentleman from Tennessee has a brief comment, because the Speaker has to go.

Thank you, Charles. It is my privilege, at this point, to recognize the Speaker of the House, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan), who will be joining the ranks of the former Members at the end of this year.

He will come back. We have been joined by the Speaker of the House, Speaker Ryan. I don't know how busy your schedule is, Mr. Speaker. I know you have a lot of demands on your time. I will let Charles finish, and then we will call you up…

I would ask that the gentleman suspend for just a moment. I know he is near the end of his report. We have been joined by the Speaker of the House.

The Chair announces that 21 former Members of Congress have responded to their names.

The Chair now recognizes the president of the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress, the Honorable Cliff Stearns of Florida, to address the Members.

The Chair again wishes to thank the former Members of the House and Senate for their presence here today. Before terminating these proceedings, the Chair would like to invite those former Members who did not respond to the roll when it was…

I would advise Mr. Hoyer that there is no 5-minute rule here; however, we do have to vacate the floor in 15 minutes.

Mr. Stearns, if you would suspend for just a moment, we are honored to have with us the distinguished Democratic whip, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Thank you, Dennis. We are now going to recognize Cliff again. As part of this meeting, we have to conduct some formal business, which is to reconstitute our board, to continue our officers. Cliff has some remarks about staff also, but this…

Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule. I know that you do have a few things to look after these days, and thank you for being here and recognizing the significance of this organization. Mr. Stearns.

Cliff, if we could suspend. The Chair recognizes the distinguished Speaker of the House, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan).